Ban on new short-term rentals in Athens city center extended until 2026

• 27 June, 25

The ban on new short-term rental permits in the center of Athens – in particular in the first, second and third municipal districts – is being extended to 2026.

Kathimerini understands that the government and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis have agreed not to allow any additional apartments to be created or given for short-term rental in the center of the capital. Essentially, with the decision taken last year and implemented as of January 2025, new property registration numbers cannot be issued in Athens’ most heavily burdened districts, where affordable long-term accommodation is in increasingly short supply.

The measure will now remain in effect at least until the end of 2026; otherwise, ministry sources said, the lifting of the restrictions would trigger a new wave of hikes in long-term rental rates. They add that the ministry is being inundated with requests to “liberate” the city center.

At the same time, the ministry will also await data on short-term rentals in all major urban centers in order to determine whether any further interventions are needed.

It is worth noting that an increase in demand for short-term rentals was seen in 2024. Overall, overnight stays reached 14.1 million in 2024, up from 12.1 million in 2023 and 9.9 million in 2019, recording an increase of 42% in the five-year period.

However, the number of nights spent in short-term rentals constitutes only 9.2% of the total nights spent by tourists in Greece in 2024 (152,335,543 nights, according to Eurostat), though the contribution of the sector to the rise in tourism is evident.

According to a Pulse RC survey conducted in May, the importance of tourism in the Greek economy is fundamental for nine out of 10 Greeks. However, they estimate that the rapid growth of short-term rentals is exacerbating the housing crisis, increasing rents and reducing the supply of real estate on the market.

Underscoring the dynamics of the new hospitality sector is the fact that the supply of short-term rental beds has exceeded hotel beds for the first time.

Cre: ekathimerini